The Deer Hunter

Main Actors: Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage, Meryl Streep

Generally ranked as one of the most subtle and profound war films ever made, The Deer Hunter follows a trio of friends (Robert De Niro’s Michael, Christopher Walken’s Nick and John Savage’s Steven) as they prepare to join the fight in Vietnam. After spending their final days as civilians celebrating Steven’s nuptials, the three men find themselves thrown right into the thick of the action -- and they’re captured by the Viet Cong almost immediately and forced to participate in a sadistic game of Russian roulette. The film mostly follows Michael, Nick and Steven’s individual attempts at dealing with their extensive wartime trauma.

The Deer Hunter arrived in theaters just a few short years after the Vietnam War had officially come to an end, and for many Americans, the film reinforced the feeling that the battle had been one of the most traumatic that their country had ever participated in. There’s little doubt that Michael Cimino’s gritty, authentic direction plays a significant role in the movie’s success, but the performances are also astonishing; De Niro and Walken turned in indelible work that’s as strong as anything they ever did. Cimino’s occasionally self-indulgent style turns out to be The Deer Hunter’s one glaring flaw, as the needlessly long-running time of 182 minutes means that lulls are inevitable.

Even for people who have never seen this film, the mention of The Deer Hunter elicits images of its infamous Russian roulette sequence. While that scene remains the highlight of the movie, Cimino does an impressive job of ensuring that The Deer Hunter is never defined by its sensational entry point. The friendship between the three central characters, as well as their shared association with the men from their small hometown, is truthful and realistic in a way that most guys will find impossible to resist, and it’s the authenticity of the male relationships that ultimately sets The Deer Hunter apart from the majority of its war movie brethren.